Business Assistance Organizations

City of San Diego Office of Small Business

The Office of Small Business manages a variety of programs to directly assist small businesses, ranging from providing detailed information on City and regional services to help with start up questions and providing assistance with permitting issues. OSB also provides matching grants to businesses in targeted areas for storefront renovation projects. Staff serves as advocates for small business concerns and coordinates several programs to ensure that small businesses have a voice in many issues that affect their ability to succeed.

City of San Diego Community and Economic Development Department

There are many financial resources for small businesses in San Diego that work in conjunction with the City of San Diego. Activities include small business loans and issuance of industrial development bonds. Most loan programs require that businesses demonstrate one year of business history.

Acción San Diego

ACCION San Diego provides credit and training for low-to-moderate income micro-entrepreneurs throughout San Diego County. With micro-loans ranging from $300-$35,000, clients can increase their inventory, buy equipment and raw materials and stabilize and grow their businesses. ACCION also helps clients build favorable credit histories and improve their business skills with one-on-one training in bookkeeping, preparation of financial statements and credit repair.

Asian Business Association

“ABA provides a strong voice on business, cultural and political issues of interest to San Diego Asian and Pacific Islander community.” They facilitate the growth and development of member businesses through ongoing entrepreneurial education, communication and business networking programs.

California Southern Small Business Development

This non-profit company primarily serves San Diego County and Southern California and is under contract with the State’s Office of Small Business to administer its loan guarantee program. Loans can be guaranteed for up to 90 percent, or $350,000, with terms of up to seven years. The loans can be used for the purchase of assets and existing businesses and for establishing business.

CDC Small Business Finance Corp.

This non-profit company is the largest organization in the United States that offers financing backed by the Small Business Administration. CDC also offers consultation to loan recipients on strengthening their businesses.

Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution

The Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) is a for-profit corporation that is addressing unmet credit needs throughout California. The Clearinghouse CDFI provides direct loans for affordable housing, community development projects, small business and other qualified CRA activities.

Greater San Diego Business Association

The Greater San Diego Business Association, (GSDBA) is San Diego’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and community supportive Chamber of Commerce. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating mainstream acceptance of diversity within our society by providing opportunities for LGBT and community supportive GSDBA businesses to succeed region wide. The GSDBA offers networking, business enhancement opportunities, social activities and advocacy relating to business.

International Rescue Committee

The San Diego office of the IRC- an agency established in 1933 by Albert Einstein to assist the world’s dispossessed offers ” micro-enterprise” classes for refugee entrepreneurs. The classes provide extensive training for people who recently arrived here from Eastern Europe, the Middle East and other global hot spots.

National Association of Women Business Owners

The organization’s chapter in San Diego sponsors a Master Mind program in which small-business owners meets with members in a confidential, noncompetitive setting to discuss business programs and problems. The chapter holds monthly meetings that feature speakers who address such small-business issues as financing and succession planning. Additionally, NAWBO presents its annual Bravo awards to recognize achievement by local small-business owners.

National Conflict Resolution Center

The National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) is a full service alternative dispute resolution provider operating as a private, non-profit corporation. It manages over 2,500 cases annually and serves clients from private industry, the courts, the community and local governments.

SDBizGuide

SDBizGuide.com provides a variety of search tools to help you locate businesses in San Diego. It is San Diego’s most complete online directory and features more than 50,000 businesses registered in the City of San Diego. Use this online directory to find businesses by name, location and or business category.

San Diego Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

The SDHCC provides free, hour-long counseling sessions for business owners, a business directory and a newsletter. It also sponsors monthly “mixers” to foster networking and support strategies. The association’s roster of 800 members includes students and corporate executives.

San Diego Public Library:

Business Resources & Technology Link

Business Resources & Technology Link is an outreach program to assist small businesses. The program’s goal is to provide services that complement those of other agencies serving the small business community. The program is headquartered at the City of San Diego Central Library in the Social Sciences Section on the 3rd Floor of the Library.

San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

“The Chamber offers programs for starting or building a business, staying current with business management trends and the connecting with other businesses and potential customers. The organization is actively involved in public policy and providing valuable resources to its members.”

San Diego Supplier Development Council

The Council is comprised of small business advocates and purchasing professionals who represent local private industry and government agencies. The Council seeks to improve member’s procurement and subcontracting performance by creating opportunities for emerging and underutilized small businesses. The Council is operated entirely by member volunteers.

San Diego Workforce Partnership

The San Diego Workforce Partnership is dedicated to bringing qualified employees and area businesses together. They offer a one-stop solution with an array of services for businesses, job seekers, the military, and youth.

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is a nonprofit association comprised of volunteer business counselors. Every month SCORE provides free counseling to hundreds of entrepreneurs in the San Diego area. These services are offered at no fee, as a community service.

The Small Business Development & International Trade Center

(SBDITC) helps potential and existing companies achieve business success. The staff and counselors are there to assist with your business goals in the global market. Services include one-on-one counseling, seminars and training, information and referral resources, import/export assistance and trade leads, procurement assistance, a business resource center, as well as English and Spanish resources and assistance.

The Women’s Business Center of California

The Women’s Business Center of California (WBCC) educates, mentors and cultivates entrepreneurial women of socially and economically diverse backgrounds for business success. The WBCC provides the tools to create self-sufficiency and prosperity. Major areas of emphasis include emerging businesses, established business expansion and technology training.

U.S. Small Business Administration

The San Diego office provides guarantees on a variety of loan programs. The SBA also offers free consulting services at its Small Business Development Centers in Chula Vista and Oceanside. The office in Downtown San Diego maintains a reference center stocked with books, magazines and computer programs.

World Trade Center of San Diego

The mission of the San Diego World Trade Center is to position San Diego and regional businesses for global recognition and market success by leveraging its international expertise, resources and network.

The Office of Small Business manages a variety of programs to directly assist small businesses, ranging from providing detailed information on City and regional services to help with start up questions and providing assistance with permitting issues. OSB also provides matching grants to businesses in targeted areas for storefront renovation projects. Staff serves as advocates for small business concerns and coordinates several programs to ensure that small businesses have a voice in many issues that affect their ability to succeed.